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Holiday rental turnover cleaning checklist and what you keep per stay

Short-stay reviews often come down to the clean, and turnovers are rushed. A checklist your cleaner uses every time, and a clear picture of what each stay actually earns, make the whole thing calmer.

A turnover checklist that works

Go room by room in the same order every time, so nothing gets skipped:

Entry: floors, door handles, lights, smoke alarm visible and undamaged.
Kitchen: dishes away, appliances wiped inside and out, fridge emptied, bins emptied and relined, restock basics.
Bathrooms: toilet, shower screen, mirror, hair in drains, fresh towels, toiletries restocked.
Bedrooms: fresh linen, check under beds and in drawers for left items, spare blankets.
Last walk-through: windows locked, aircon off, keys or lockbox reset, photo of each room.

Note damage and left-behind items with dated photos straight away. It's much easier to sort out with the guest or platform while it's fresh.

Work out what you really keep

The nightly rate isn't your income. For each stay, subtract the platform's fee (check your own account, since fees vary), the cleaning cost, linen, consumables and any per-booking costs. Then look at the month: fixed costs like insurance, internet and strata don't care how many nights you booked. A simple break-even occupancy (how many nights a month you need to cover fixed costs) is worth knowing.

Rules and tax

Short-stay rules depend on your state and council. In NSW, for example, short-term rental accommodation has its own register and rules. Income from renting out a property or room is generally taxable; the ATO's sharing economy and tax pages explain how.

General information only, not tax advice. Rules and rates change, so check the linked ato.gov.au page for the current version, or ask a registered tax agent about your situation.

Free tip: Keep a sealed "restock box" for each property with exactly what a turnover needs (toilet rolls, dishwasher tablets, coffee pods). The cleaner swaps it out, and you reorder one box instead of guessing.

Want it done for you? Holiday Rental Cleaning Checklist & Pricing Sheet (Australia)

Give your cleaner the same checklist every time, and see your net per stay, per night and per month after fees and costs.

6-page fillable A4 PDF: turnover checklist, restock list, damage report, linen tracker
Short-stay host pricing sheet (.xlsx) with Per Stay and Monthly tabs
Break-even occupancy
You enter your own platform fee

US$7.99 one-time on Whop. Instant download.

See it on Whop →

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General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Check the official pages linked above, or ask a registered tax agent, before you rely on anything here. Last checked 16 Nov 2026.